Hi Ms. Cannino. Thanks for joining me, and letting LoveRomancesandMore.com readers get to know you! 

Will you tell our readers a bit about yourself and your life? 

I’m a chubby Italian girl who loves to write!

You are from California, have you always lived there, or how did you come to live in such a great climate? 

I was born and raised in San Jose and witnessed the birth of Silicon Valley. 

Are you a big fan of the beach?  Any particular landmark in your area that readers could find you hanging out around? 

I love the beach! Fiction fans could find me hanging out at Manresa State Beach at sunset with my two dogs Halle and Bosco. 

Do you have any children, pets? 

Two young teens, two labs and … oh yea, a hubby too. 

Is writing your full time job, or do you have a day job? 

Yes writing is my full time job. I also freelance for our local newspaper; The Register-Pajaronian. 

Your novel CELL OUT was released in May of 2005 by iUniverse.  Was this your first published novel? 

Actually, Cell Out was released in July 2005, no big deal. And yes it is my first published novel. 

What have you been working on since the release of CELL OUT?  Is there another novel in the works? 

My latest project is a fabulous teen novel titled The Cuban Castaway. The Cuban Castaway is loosely based on the story of Elian Gonzales. You may remember his plight. Elian was the young Cuban boy they found floating in the Florida Straits about six years ago. The Cuban Castaway is also a romance and is the story of young love between the main character, Jorge Esquivel and his girlfriend Tita Marciano. I’ve just completed the manuscript and I’m currently looking for a publisher for The Cuban Castaway. 

Where did the idea of Peter and his “relationship” with Father Patrick Martin come from?  Do you personally know anyone who has gone through this trauma? 

Most of my ideas for stories or characters are inspired by real news events or people in the news. The character of Peter Golozzi was originally based on a convicted serial rapist that I wrote about when I worked as a news writer for the local television news station in my home town.

When I began writing Cell Out, I didn’t know anyone personally who had been sexually abused by a priest.  Subsequently though, when researching Cell Out, I spoke to members of an organization called SNAP (Survivors Network of those abused by Priests). Dan McNevin, of the Bay Area chapter of SNAP, gave me an insight into the trauma suffered by victims abused by clergy.  I also interviewed a priest who is a family friend; he described to me the typical profile of a priest who preys on young boys. 

Are you Catholic?  What are your feelings about THE DA VINCI CODE?   

Yes I am a practicing Catholic and my children both attend Catholic schools.  I have met many fine Catholic men and woman who are working for the betterment of youth in our community. I think it’s tragic that a priest like Fr. Martin can masquerade as a sincere individual and actually harm innocent young lives and undo the work that is done by those who truly care about kids.

When I first began researching the story of Cell Out I read in the newspaper that there were 900 claims of sexual misconduct against priests in the Los Angeles Diocese alone. This statistic shocked me! I decided it’s something that obviously affected a lot of people and that’s why I was compelled to write about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in a story that is tragic, poignant and funny.

Some of my readers have a difficult time getting passed the molestation in the beginning, because it is emotionally heart wrenching. I always tell readers to hang in there, because the protagonist, Peter Golozzi turns out to be a fascinating character who you can’t stop reading about.

To be honest with you Angie, I think the DAVINCI CODE is a good story. The ancient history of the Catholic Church is indeed fascinating, but Cell Out is about here and now and in many ways Cell Out is a story ahead of it’s time. 

If you were approached to make a movie out of CELL OUT, would you agree to it?  Who would you want to play Peter as a child, and/or adult? 

I absolutely would agree to make a screenplay out of Cell Out. In fact, I had a distant connection to Malpaso Productions (Clint Eastwood’s production company) and I have approached them about Cell Out as a possible project for Malpaso. Clint Eastwood’s hometown of Carmel is not far from where I live on the central California coast.

I see Sean Penn in the role of Peter as an adult. The child Peter would be well portrayed by a young actor like Justin Berfield. Justin plays “Reese” in one of my favorite sitcoms, “Malcolm in the Middle.”  

Do you see yourself as a strong enough woman to accept Peter as Marylyn did? 

Yes. I’m a sucker for a beautiful smile! 

When did you first dream of becoming a writer?  How long before you jumped on your dream and sent off the first manuscript? 

I’ve enjoyed writing almost all of my adult life. Writing news is my livelihood and I’ve been lucky that I remember almost every quirky news story I write about. My dream was  that someday I would combine  many of the bizarre news events I’ve written about for the evening news and pen a novel.

I’m a voracious reader and finally, when I started reading novels that I thought I could just as easily write myself, I decided it was time to live my dream.

My dear friend, Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, encouraged me to follow through with my idea. She gave me a lot of the material for Peter and Fr. Martin’s character because she was a psychologist at a state forensic hospital and worked rehabilitating sexually violent predators. I quit my job, sort of isolated myself and started researching and typing. 

When you begin a novel, do you outline or just let the words flow?  Do you start out typing or put ideas down on scrap papers?   

I usually just start typing. 

How long from start to finish does it take you to write a novel?   

The story of Cell Out took about four months to hatch.  Then I took two years to edit and at least six months to publish. 

How many manuscripts have you finished?   

The Cuban Castaway is my second manuscript. 

The internet has changed the publishing industry dramatically; do you have a website, or write a blog?  Do you think all authors will eventually find themselves online in some way?

My website is www.celloutbook.com.  Yes, marketing and selling novels has become big business online. Blogging is such an awesome way for readers and writers to connect and share their favorite books! I’m not sure if all authors will be online. 

What is your biggest inspiration in writing?  Where do your ideas come from? 

I’m inspired by everyday news events and usually formulate stories around ideas I get from people in the news. 

Can you share what authors inspire you or give you reason to keep writing?  Any favorite authors out there? 

I read all sorts of stuff. I must admit though, I love the classics. My favorite author is a classic story teller; F. Scott Fitzgerald. I like Fitzgerald because he gives the reader an insight into the period he’s writing about.

When it comes to romance, nobody does it better than Ernest Hemmingway in A Farewell To Arms. The classic tale of love and loss between Lt. Frederic Henry and Catherine is so poignant and beautiful that the reader feels the joy and pain the two lovers experience.

Right now I’m reading Before we were Free by Julia Alvarez. The book has won several awards, most notably the Pura Belpre Award. I’m reading Before we were Free  because the theme is very similar to The Cuban Castaway and I’m comparing the two stories. What’s on your bedside table Angie?         

How do your parents and friends feel about your success as a writer?  What do they think about the subject matter in CELL OUT?

I’m honestly flattered that you call me a successful writer, but while I believe that Cell Out is an important story, I am still waiting for commercial success.  I guess because the subject material of Cell Out is controversial, family and friends are usually cautiously complimentary. I always wonder though; “did they really like Cell Out, or are they being kind?” 

Who has been your biggest supporter?

Financially speaking, I’d have to say my husband. 

If you close your eyes and let yourself daydream, where does your subconscious take you?  Where is your heaven on earth? 

My best story plots are often shaped during my morning jog on the beach. 

You have a great website, would you like to share more about it with our readers? 

Thank-you. The website was designed and produced by Jeremy Morrison who is a fabulous graphic artist. Jeremy is now working for The History Channel in Boston. Readers usually like the cell phone navigator and the photos of the dogs. Check it out at www.celloutbook.com.  

Anything else you would like to share with readers? 

I encourage all fiction fans to read Cell Out; it’s the perfect page turning book to finish off your summer reading season! 

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!  I have enjoyed getting to know you.

Thank You, the pleasure has been all mine!